I never thought the nail bomb man was IRA - he was in the wrong place. Brixton and Brick Lane proclaimed him to be what he was, one of our racists. he is clearly mad, but unfortunately in a way which merges with a number of people who hold their views to be reasonable and representative of what English thinking should be. I deny that it is, and that it has any right to dictate the lives of the rest of us.

The bomb at Hammersmith was different. I was not aware, until the media (and I read the thoughtful sort) revealed that it was one of the first IRA targets in the 20s, and has been hit since as a reminder. That was what I meant about some people being more aware of the history than we always are. (One interesting but irrelevant point that came out was that the local people who were interviewed about the previous explosion were of a totally different class from the present locals.) I imagine that there are people who might use that historical connection to set up the suggestion that a branch of the IRA is still active when they are not, in order to justify some other agenda, but it cannot be ruled out that there might be an Irish splinter group. Unless, as I tried to indicate, people who know better in Ireland come out and state that there isn't.

I have stated before that the more I learn about the treatment of the Irish by British governments the more I believe it to have been appalling. I can understand why things have been the way they were. I also understand that the majority of the Irish (wherever) want peace.

I was trying to suggest that if that is the case, then eventually, such splinter groups will be of no more political significance than the nail bomber.

And I have never done anything, never knowingly voted for anyone who has done anything (that's tricky though) to cause anyone to see me as an enemy. Those who claim that the English, simply by accident of birth, must bear the sins of those who were not even their fathers....

I'm not going to finish that. I do try to understand the negative influences ion the Irish. I was enjoying this thread. I thought it worth backing what you said, while recognising why Alan said what he said.

I agree with Big Mick. This isn't the thread.

My aunt believed my great grandfather was Irish because of the dancing he did in the pub. It's not enough to trade on, so I was keeping out. I'm sorry I didn't.

And Alan, if you're still around, it is no more a good idea to hold grudges based on the actions of a few Irish as it is to do the same for a few English. And my brother in law still carries the cloud of one explosion himself. Read the way these people are. They are not the IRA. They may be republicans, but so might you be in a different place at a different time.

Penny